Guide to Boiler Heating System Components: Part I

There are many different components to each boiler heating system.

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Boiler Heating System Components:

1 - Boiler

2 - Indirect Water Heater

3 - Boiler Header

4 - Low Water Cut-Off

5 - Switching Relay

6 - Thermostat

7 - Circulator

8 - Tempering Valve

9 - Expansion Tank

10 - Air Eliminator

11 - Zone Valve Controller

12 - Circulator Flanges

13 - Zone Valve

14 - Ball Valve

15 - Boiler Drain

16 - Temperature Gauge

17 - Fill Valve

18 - Backflow Preventer

19 - Boiler Reset Control

20 - Check Valve

Heating System Diagram

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1 – Boiler

The first piece of the boiler based heating system is of course the boiler. Boilers are used to heat water or make steam. They are either powered by electricity, natural gas, or oil, which require different piping systems for each type.

Learn More About Boilers

Shop Now:• Weil Mclain

Indirect Water Heaters• Smart Indirect Water Heaters• Bradford White Indirect Water

Heaters

Learn More About Indirect Water Heaters

2 – Indirect Water Heater

After water is heated in the boiler, it is passed through a heat exchanger located in the storage tank of the indirect water heater. This allows the boiler or furnace to turn on and off less frequently, which helps save energy and money. However, separate water heater is not needed if you already have one. Not all applications need the use of water heaters either.

Learn More About Boiler Headers

3 – Boiler Header

Boiler headers are also known as boiler manifolds, which function as a hub for heating systems. Boiler headers come in variety of sizes with different number of outlets.

Learn More About Low Water Cut-Off Products

4 – Low Water Cutoff

A low water cutoff detects when water levels in hot water and steam boilers reach a level lower than the minimum required for safe operation. It then turns off the boiler and prevents possible boiler failure or fire/explosion. Low water cutoffs are one of the most important parts of a safe hydronic heating systems. Shop Now:

• Steam/Low Voltage LWCO• Steam/Line Voltage LWCO• Water/Line Voltage LWCO• Water/Low Voltage LWCO• Mcdonnell & Miller LWCO

Learn More About Switching Relays

5 – Switching Relay

Switching relays are used to control temperatures of water in a heating system. They are used to connect thermostats to circulator pumps so that the circulator pump goes on when the thermostat calls for heat.

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Learn More About Thermostats

6 – Thermostats

Thermostats are used to control the temperature of specific rooms of your house. This allows you to adjust temperatures of each room to fit your comfort. Thermostats come with different functionalities such as programmability, application type, stages, user interface, voltage and changeover type. Shop Now:

• Honeywell Thermostats• White Rodgers Thermostats• Tekmar Thermostats• Robertshaw Thermostats

Learn More About Pumps or Circulator Pumps

7 – Circulator

Circulators, also known as pumps, help move water through a heating system at the needed rate. When choosing a circulator it is important to know the application, GPM, head range, material, voltage and horsepower needed.

Shop Now:• Taco Pumps• Grundfos Pumps• Bell & Gossett Pumps• Wilo Pumps• Armstrong Pumps

Shop Now:• Watts Thermostatic Mixing Va

lves• Watts N170 Commercial Tem

pering Valve• Watts 70A Hot Water Extend

er Tempering Valves

Learn More About Tempering (Mixing) Valves

8 – Tempering Valve

Tempering valves mix hot and cold water to produce water at a desired temperature. They are used for variety of radiant heating and domestic water applications. In domestic water applications, they ensure steady temperature ranging from 85°F to 150°F and help prevent potential burns.

Shop Now:• Expansion Tanks for Heating

Systems• Potable Expansion Tanks• Well Expansion Tanks

Learn More About Expansion Tanks

9 – Expansion Tank

Expansion tanks help keep a constant pressure in potable water and closed heating systems by providing extra space for excess water to enter. Expansion tanks can help prevent pipes from being damaged from increased pressure.

Learn More About Air Eliminators

10 – Air Eliminator

Air eliminators help remove excess air from hydronic heating systems which will help prevent pipes and other components from damage caused by trapped air. Air can also prevent proper heat distribution. Air is created as pressure or temperature changes.

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Combination Air Eliminators• PV SuperVent Air Eliminators• Spirotherm Air Eliminators

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